Clothes-washing machine



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1947 1 VENTOR.

T. R. SMITH CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINE Nov. 20, 1951 2' SHEETS-SHEET. 2

Filed Jan. 21, 1947 a! .vlllllllllllI/IIAAIIIIII A It! I Patented Nov. 20, 1951 CLOTHES-WASHING mourns Thomas R. Smith, Newton, Iowa, asslgnor to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa. a corporation of Delaware Application January 21, 1947, Serial No. 723.340

4 Claims.

Y The present invention relates to a novel washing machine provided with a tub, an agitator of approximately cup-shape and of a diameter but slightly less than the inner diameter of the tub. and a perforated liner or foraminous member extending above the outer or upper edge of the a tator and vertically along and in spaced relason with the interior of the tub.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel washing machine provided with a cup-shaped agitator of approximately the diameter of the tub.

Another object is to provide a novel assembly including a cup-shaped agitator and a foraminous member or perforated liner extending thereabove and in spaced relation with a concentric outer tub for holding the clothes away from the tub during the spinning or drying action.

The invention further comprehends a novel agitator construction having a diameter approximating that of the tub in which it oscillates when washing the clothes, and in which it rotates at a relatively high, speed when centrifugally drying the clothes. The agitator is further provided with a novel water impelling means including a single vane or upstanding blade extending inwardly from the side wall of the cup-shaped agitator to adjacent the center thereof. whereby the clothes and wash water are given a novel action resulting in a high degree of washing efficiency.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel inner tub assembly and including a cup-shaped agitator having a foraminous liner or perforated upper portion extending thereabove in spaced relation with the tub. whereby to efiect and facilitate washing and thereafter spin drying of the clothes.

The present invention also comprehends a novel inner tub assembly or unit including an agitator having a vertically arranged side wall and an upstanding vane or impeller blade extending along and inwardly from the side wall of the agitator, and a perforated or foraminous basket formed integral therewith.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efllciency. economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment,

it is to be understood that the same is susceptible v 2 of modification and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmen I of a novel washing machine and the operating or driving mechanism therefor. d

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing analternate construction.

Referring to thedisclosure in the drawings and particularly tothe illustrative embodiment shown in Fig. l thereof, the washing machine therein shown comprises a stationary tub i and a combined basket shaped assembly 2 for receiving clothes to be washed including a lower, cupshaped agitator portion 3 and a perforated or foraminous cylindrical upper portion 4 preferably formed into an integral structure. The combined assembly including the agitator and perforated or foraminous part are conformably received within and of substantially the same contour as the tub I, with the cup-shaped agitator positioned adjacent the bottom I of the tub and of a diameter but slightly less than that of the tub i. A single upstanding vane or water agitating blade 8 projects upwardly from the base I of the assemblyand radially inward from thecylindrical side wall 8 of theagitator portion of the assembly.

The cylindrical side wall 8 merges into or is formed integral with the cylindrical part or member 4 which extends vertically upward and is perforated throughout its height. At its upper end the assembly is provided with an inturned L flange or ledge 9 having a downwardly curled lip or rolled edge Hi. The tub is also provided with a similarly intumed flange or ledge ll having a curled lip or rolled edge I2, and with the lips or edges l0 and I2 defining an opening in the top of the washing machine for receiving the clothes andwash water. Any suitable lid or closure may be provided for this opening. A drain outlet i3 is provided in the base i of the tub I.

The entire unit is preferably suspended by a resilient mounting comprising spaced suspension springs I 4 each having one end connected to a bracket l5 secured upon any suitable supporting members It and the other end connected toan annular bracket ll secured upon the tub i adjacent its lower end. This resilient mounting permits the assembly 2 to rotate about its established center of gravity depending upon whatever unbalanced load occurs in the inner tub.

. The assembly is mounted upon a center plate It having 9. depending hub l9 internally splined ry view in perspective for driving connection with the upper splined end 23 of a vertically arranged drive shaft 2| for oscillating the assembly including the agitator and perforated or foraminous part, or for rapidly rotating the same. Also, the bottom 5 of the tub I has a center-plate 5* rigidly mounted thereon, and it is journaled on the outer surface of the hub It to maintain the tub in spaced relation to the assembly 2. Any suitable packing material 5 may be provided to prevent leakage of water through the journal. A drive pulley 22 is suitably keyed or pinned to the drive shaft and when rotated rapidly spins the assembly in one directionfor drying the clothes. Such rotation may be accomplished through a belt 23 driven from a pulley 24 on a motor or other power source 23.

For oscillating the agitator and perforated or foraminous part there is keyed or pinned to the.

drive shaft 2| adjacent its lower end a clutch 26 having a depending clutch face,- and adjacent thereto is a pinion 21 loose and slidable upon the shaft and provided at its lower end with an annular recess 23 receiving an eccentric pin or cam 29 on the end of a'shifter shaft 30. This shifter shaft is connected to a rod 3! actuated by a handle or knob 32 whereby the operator by manipulating the handle or knob 32 may raise the pinion 21 into clutching engagement with the clutch 23 to oscillate the shaft 2|, or lower the pinion 21 out of clutching engagement and thereby prevent oscillation of this shaft. 7

The pinion 21 is in continuous meshing engagement with a rack 33 provided on a face of a cross head 34 and slidably mounted on a fixed rod 35. Disposed at the rear of the cross head 34 is a worm wheel 33 provided with a cross pin and roller 31 operating in a vertical slot 33 in the rear face of the cross head 31 and to the rear of the rack 33. A worm 39 is in meshing engagement with and drives the worm wheel 33 through a pulley l0 pinned or keyed on the end of a worm shaft 4| and driven by a belt 42 from a pulley 43 on the drive shaft of a motor or other power source 44. Thus when the motor 44 is operating, the worm and worm wheel are continuously rotated and the worm through the eccentric pin connection with the cross head continuously reciprocates the rack 33. As the pinion 21 remains in mesh with the rack regardless of its vertical position, it will be continuously oscillated thereby. However, as this pinion is free to turn or slide on the drive: shaft 2|, it does not transmit its oscillatory motion to the drive shaft except when the pinion has been moved or raised into clutching engagement with the clutch 23. The oscillating mechanism is preferably enclosed within an oil-tight housing or gear casing A, which is shown as broken away to more clearly illustrate the power drive.

In the washing operation, the oscillating mechanism through the pinion 2'! and clutch 26 is clutched to the drive shaft 2| causing the assembly, including the agitator and perforated or foraminous part, to oscillate through a desired arc and at the desired speed of oscillation. The washing machine is filled with water to the proper height and the perforations in the foraminous part permit the water to pass into the space provided between the tub and the assembly. Clothes and soap are then placed in the basket portion of the assembly and oscillated by the agitator for the desired period of time for washing the clothes therein. During this washing operation the single vane or blade 8 forces the clothes and wash water outwardly over the cupped bas 1 and side walls 3 of the agitator, which direct the clothes and wash water outwardly, then upwardly and then inwardly over the top and down the opposite side of the inner tub to thereby complete the cycle of action.

As the perforated or foraminous part and agitator are rapidly oscillated (for example, 50 to 60 oscillations per minute and through an arc of approximately flve-eighths of a revolution).

the circuit set up by this rapid oscillation and reversal causes a vigorous water and washing action. At the same time, the centrifugal force throws thedirt and heavy foreign particles outwardly and through perforations in the foruminous part, such particles being collected in the space between the assembly and tub and away from the. clothes.

When the tub is drained through'the outlet 13. this dirt is carried away without coming in contact with the clothes. Although the bottom or base I of the inner tub may be imperforate, I preferably provide perforations at or adjacent the center thereof for facilitating draining action when the tub is drained of the wash water and prior to spinning the basket-shaped assembly for drying the clothes.

When the washing operation has been accomplished, the oscillating mechanism is disconnected from the drive shaft 2| by moving the handle or knob 32 and shifter shaft 30 to declutch the pinion 21 from the clutch 23. The drive pulley 22 is then rotated at a relatively high rate of speed to thereby rotate the basket assembly in one direction for centrifugally drying the clothes by causing the water in the clothes to be ejected and pass out through the openings or perforations in the foraminous part. This water is then collected in the tub and discharged through the drain outlet i3.

In Fig. 2 is shown another embodiment of the novel washing machine, in which assembly is provided an outer stationary tub 45 having a base or bottom 46 through which projects the vertical drive shaft 2|. A diaphragm seal 31 disposed in the bottom of the tub 45 seals against leakage along the shaft. and permits relative motion of the shaft in all directions, while a drain outlet 43 permits rapid draining of the tub after washing and spinning operations.

Mounted upon the splined upper end 20 of the shaft by means of an internally splined hub I3 is an inner rotatable tub 49 having its base 53 located above and spaced from the bottom 46 of the outer tub, and its cylindrical side wall 3! spaced from the side wall 52 of the outer tub. An assembly including a single vane 53 and a perforated basket or receptacle 54 is provided in the inner tub 49. The single upstanding vane or water impelling blade 53 which is similar to the vane or blade 6 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, extends along the inner surface of the side wall 5| and projects radially inward to adjacent the center of the base 50. The perforated basket 54 having a base or bottom wall 55 and side wall 56 conforming to the shape of the inner tub 49 is slipped down into this tub, the side wall and bottom wall of the perforated member or receptacle being slotted to permit its proper positioning over the vane or blade 53.

To permit the perforated basket to be spaced from the inner tub an amount just sufl'icient to permit passage therebetween of water as well as any dirt or sediment that drops or is ejected through the perforations existing throughout the 5 basket, the base or bottom wall 55 is provided with spaced indentations-5! and the upper end of the basket is deformed outwardly to provide an annular enlargement or bead 58 seating against the upper edge of the inner tub and directly above a row of perforations 59 provided in this tub. Adjacent this enlargement or bead the basket is bent inwardly to provide a ledge or flange 60 and an annular lip 6i defining an opening for the insertion and removal of the clothes. Any suitable lid or closure may be provided for this opening. A pipe 62 provides a water inlet into the basket 54 and inner tub 49.

The operating mechanism for both the washing and spinning operations is similar to that employed in Fig. 1 and similar reference characters have been applied to the parts. clothes are to be washed and assuming the inner tub has been supplied with a requisite depth of water, the motor Mi is started and the pinion 21 is clutched to the drive shaft 2i. Clothes and soap are then added and the clothes washed for the desired period. During such washing operation, the inner tub 49 and perforated basket 59 are oscillated through a desired arc and speed of oscillation (for example, through an arc of approximately five-eighths of a revolution and at a speed of fifty to sixty oscillations per minute). The water action produced with the single vane or blade gives a vigorous washing action with the water and clothes carried outwardly, then upwardly along the side of the p rforated receptacle or basket and then over to the opposite side to complete its cycle. During such washing the heavy dirt and other foreign particles or 1 matter of a size that may pass through the perforations in the basket, drop or pass therethrough and collect in the space between the basket and the inner tub.

When it is desired to spin the clothes dry, the

pinion 27 is declutched from the driveshaft 2i and the motor or other power source 25 drives the pulley 22 and rotates the drive shaft, inner tub 49 and perforated receptacle or basket 54 at a relatively high rate of speed and in one direction. During this spinning operation, centrifugal action causes water from the clothes to be expelled and to pass through the perforations in the perforated basket or receptacle and this water alongwith the dirt and foreign particles which have dropped through the perforated basket or receptacle during the washing operation are carried outward and up the interior wall 51 of the tub 49 to be discharged through the openings or perforations 59 into the space between the inner and outer tubs, without coming in contact with the clothes. This dirt and water is collected in the outer tub 45 and pumped out or otherwise discharged through the drain out- From the above description and the disclosure in the drawings, it will be apparent that the present invention comprehends a novel washing machine assembly provided with a cup-shaped agitator of a diameter substantially that of the tub in which it operates, and a novel inner tub assembly including the agitator and perforated liner extending upwardly along the interior of the tub but in spaced relation therewith, the perforated liner being formed integral with or sep- When" arate from the agitator but rotatable therewith during the drying operation. 7

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. In a clothes washing and drying machine, a stationary outer tub, an inner tub mounted for oscillation and rotation within the outer tub and provided with a single upstand ng vane projecting radially inward from the side wall of the inner tub, and a perforated receptacle including a bottom wall detachably carried within and conforming to the interior of the inner tub, said receptacle having a slot in said bottom wall for receiving and through which the vane projects when the receptacle is assembled in the inner tub.

2. In a clothes washing and drying machine, a stationary outer tub, an inner tub imperforate except for spaced perforations provided adjacent the extreme upper end of the tub, an upstanding water impelling vane projecting radially inwardly from the side wall to short of the center of the inner tub, and a removable foraminous receptacle mounted within the inner tub in closely spaced relation with the interior thereof, said receptacle having its bottom wall and side wall slotted to receive and permit the vane to project therethrough and whereby said inner tub and receptacle are connected and move together, means for oscillating the inner tub and receptacle during washing, and means for rotating the inner tub and receptacle during spin drying.

3. In a clothes washing and drying machine, a stationary outer tub, an inner tub mounted for oscillation and rotation within the outer tub, a single upstanding vane projecting radially inward from the side wall of the inner tub, and a perforated receptacle detachably mounted within and conforming to the interior of the inner tub and having its bottom wall and side wall slotted whereby said receptacle may be readily assembled and d sassembled and when assembled the receptacle seats within the inner tub and over the upstanding vane.

4. In a clothes washing and drying machine, a stationary container, a tub mounted for oscillation and rotation within the container, agitating I means secured to the tub, and a perforated receptacle having a closed end detachably mounted within and conforming to the interior of the tub with the closed end being cut out in part to seat about and permit the agitating means to project through said cut-out and into the interior of said perforated receptacle.

THOMAS R. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Geldhof Dec. 4, 1945 

